LOT 100

1973 Buick Riviera 'Boat Tail' Coupé Registration no. FWX 410L Chassis no. 4Y87U3H477102

Sold for £26,737.50 inc. premium

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Lot 100

1973 Buick Riviera 'Boat Tail' Coupé

Goodwood Members' Meeting|16 April 2023, 13:00 BST|Chichester, Goodwood

1973 Buick Riviera 'Boat Tail' Coupé
Registration no. FWX 410L
Chassis no. 4Y87U3H477102

• Rare 'boat tail' model
• Imported from the Lebanon in 2021
• Interior and paintwork restored in 2020
• Steel sunroof added

Founded in 1903 by Scottish-born inventor David Dunbar Buick, the Buick Motor Company was acquired by William C Durant's General Motors in 1908, slotting into the GM empire between the expensive Cadillac and cheaper Chevrolet ranges. A new introduction for 1963, the Riviera was Buick's new 'personal car', the evocative name - first used in 1949 - suggesting its intended playground was the South of France.

The example offered here belongs to the 3rd Generation (1970-1973) Riviera, its arrival marking a radical redesign and the adoption of dramatic 'boat tail' styling, penned by Jerry Hirshberg under the supervision of GM's master stylist, Bill Mitchell. Unlike its smaller predecessors, the new Riviera used GM's full-size 'B' platform. There was only one engine available: Buick's 455ci (7.5-litre) V8 producing 315bhp gross (around 250bhp net) in standard trim. There was a mild makeover for 1972 and then a more extensive facelift for 1973, when the Riviera received a new front end and a shorter, blunter rear deck.

Notable standard features included Accu-Drive front suspension; variable ratio power steering; power brakes with front discs; automatic climate control; and Max Trac, the latter an early traction control system. The Riviera's controversial 'boat tail' styling was gone when the 4th generation arrived for 1974, making the uniquely styled three-years-only 3rd Generation all the more collectible.

The Buick Riviera we offer comes from long-term ownership in Lebanon, the private collector subsequently moving his collection to the UK and Europe. The private vendor advises us that the paintwork and interior were restored in 2020 and a steel sunroof added, before the car came to the UK in 2021. The restoration involved a bare-metal re-spray and interior re-trim in leather using hides from the UK. No bills are available as the work was carried out by the owner's in-house team. Accompanying paperwork consists of a V5C document and an American Auto Club UK dating certificate and confirmation of identity.

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